'Dental therapists' spark debate

Some state lawmakers think they’ve found the solution to the nation’s severe dental care access problem, but so far, only two states are using the touted “dental therapists” — and dentists aren’t thrilled about the idea.

According to the Pew Center on the States, more than 40 million Americans reside in areas with a shortage of dentists. And individuals without dental health access often end up in the emergency room, which is more expensive for everyone.

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Advocacy groups and some state legislators think an alternative type of dental provider, often called a dental therapist, can fill the void. Dental therapists don’t receive as much training as a dentist. But they can perform some of the same basic services — such as pulling teeth and filling cavities — under the supervision of a dentist.

In Minnesota and Alaska, the two states that have practicing dental therapists so far, some of the therapists are able to take their work on the road, traveling to rural areas to treat those who have little or no access to dentists — or who have limited dental coverage. The dental therapists charge less than dentists and are able to take all types of insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare.

“The bottom line is that it will cost a state significantly less to hire dental therapists to provide basic restorative care to the underserved,” said Julie Stitzel, manager for the Pew Children’s Dental Campaign.

Alaska uses the therapists as part of its Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. Minnesota is the only state to have passed a law licensing them. But many state legislatures — including those in Connecticut, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Vermont and Washington — are already considering or planning to consider bills to license dental therapists this year.

The bills often have bipartisan support, but passage isn’t a sure bet. In part, that’s because it takes years to shore up public support for a new type of provider and to build training programs to support them.

And there’s one other big challenge: The American Dental Association is staunchly opposed to dental therapists.